A method is described for the determination of nickel in heavy crude oil by carbon rod atomic absorption spectroscopy in the parts per million range. A 5-g sample is completely dissolved to 25 ml of tetrahydrofuran (THF) stabilized with 0.1% hydroquinone and further diluted with THF. Nickel can be measured at a concentration of 0.1 ppm with a relative standard deviation of about 10% after a 100-fold dilution of the crude. The analysis by standard curve method as well as standard additions methods gave reproducible results. These results also agreed well with values obtained by conventional activation analysis. The method is relatively rapid after sample dilution.
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